the Bad Plus w/Wendy Lewis

There were moments when I thought a sky opening storm was brewing up to release its wrath, and other moments I thought of pets I had growing up. For the fist 40% of the show, bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, and drummer David King (collectively known as the Bad Plus) were completely instrumental. Right away you can see and feel the specialness of this threesome, the ebb & flow of “in the momentness” grabs you instantly. The other portion of the show feature indie rock vocalist, Wendy Lewis teaming with the band to dissect and recreate songs we know into new pieces that almost seem distant from our trained listening. The version of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb is a rendition that made me feel like if that was the only time I had ever heard that song, if the original never existed….I’d be completely satisfied with the Bad Plus with Wendy Lewis‘ version as the only one. During the U2 song Under a Blood Red Sky, I swear the top of the building could have flown open with the lift of gargoyles and a storm unlike any other could have been waiting out doors…..but then it came back around to the sound of U2….This show twisted my ears some, all for the better…..but personally, I don’t need to hear Blue Velvet anytime soon.

Here is a portion of “Comfortably Numb”